Plot: A sheriff’s deputy fights an alternate universe version of himself who grows stronger with each alternate self he kills.

KBZ’s Take: If you get annoyed by mountain-sized plot holes in your Multiverse films, you might want to pass on The One. However, if you like Martial Arts action with a unique Sci-Fi premise involving The Multiverse and alternate versions of yourself, this is a very fun ride.

The film stars Jet Li and Jason Statham but the film’s highlights are Jet Li fighting alternate versions of Jet Li. The film’s concept of getting stronger by eliminating those alternate versions is similar to the ‘quickening’ concept in Highlander (1986), but in The One, it’s Multiverse focused.

The Multiverse concept in the film works (if you don’t think about it too much) and the exciting action sequences are reminiscent of The Matrix (1999). Put together, they make up one of the more enjoyable and lighthearted Multiverse films every subgenre fan should see.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/43F76y3

Plot: A group of friends stumble upon a portal to a multiverse.

KBZ’s Take: This is one of the better films about the Multiverse theory and parallel worlds. While it’s a low budget effort, the concept is solid and the story very engaging. It doesn’t have any high-profile actors, but you’ll recognize almost everybody in this film from some popular television series.

It’s a film you have to pay attention to, but if you get lost or have questions at the end, This Is Barry has a great explanation of the film.

Additional Lists: Top Films About The Multiverse You Haven’t Seen #2, Top Alternate History Films You Haven’t Seen #6

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3gQQkcL

Plot: Doctor Strange, with the help of mystical allies both old and new, traverses the mind-bending and dangerous alternate realities of the Multiverse to confront a mysterious new adversary.

KBZ’s Take: Doctor Strange spearheaded the use of the Multiverse concept that was deployed in subsequent MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) Films such as Avengers: Endgame (2019) that led to a full embrace of Multiverse concepts in Marvel’s Multiverse Saga. This film is part of the Multiverse Saga and contains some of the best (and weirdest) uses of The Multiverse seen to date.

Sam Raimi had previously directed films such as Spiderman (2002) and Evil Dead II (1987) and you can see influences from both of those films in his take on Doctor Strange. The film is much darker than a typical Marvel Superhero film, has underlying horror elements and also includes some of Raimi’s visual weirdness that helps bring the source material to life. This is most evident in the completely whacky scene of Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) flying through different Multiverses.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3MRVlOh

Plot: Bitten by a radioactive spider in the subway, Brooklyn teenager Miles Morales suddenly develops mysterious powers that transform him into the one and only Spider-Man. When he meets Peter Parker, he soon realizes that there are many others who share his special, high-flying talents. Miles must now use his newfound skills to battle the evil Kingpin, a hulking madman who can open portals to other universes and pull different versions of Spider-Man into our world.

KBZ’s Take: This is the first of two animated films to make our list. We usually focus on live action films for our film subgenre lists but given how quickly animated films have adopted Multiverse concepts over the last decade, it wouldn’t feel right to not promote some of these great films.

Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse has been critically acclaimed for its amazing animation leading to an Academy Award for Best Animated Film of 2018. However, more impressive than the visuals are the storytelling and the Multiverse concepts found throughout the film. One particular detail we enjoyed was the appearance of all the different versions of Peter Parker and their backstories.

Even if you’re not into animated films, this is one film with strong Multiverse concepts we recommend checking out.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/42qVI7Y

Plot: While exploring her new home, a girl named Coraline (Dakota Fanning) discovers a secret door, behind which lies an alternate world that closely mirrors her own but, in many ways, is better. She rejoices in her discovery, until Other Mother (Teri Hatcher) and the rest of her parallel family try to keep her there forever. Coraline must use all her resources and bravery to make it back to her own family and life.

KBZ’s Take: The second animated film on our list and one of the best films dealing with a parallel universe – animated or live action.

While the film’s animation is not as heralded as Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse (2018), it relies more on very imaginative storytelling. This is a dark film but one that fleshes out a parallel world that can best be described as a world from a child’s nightmares. Dark Fantasy is at the heart of the film while it also contains concepts of integration between the two worlds.

Though this is an animated film, its subject matter is a bit too intense for younger children. For fans of the Multiverse and the Dark Fantasy film subgenre, it’s a film that shouldn’t be missed.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3NdyTAx

Plot: The last mortal human alive reflects on three different lives he might have led.

KBZ’s Take: As we noted in the introduction to this article, Multiverse Films and Films About Alternate History can sometimes feature elements of both subgenres. This is one of those films. Not only is this the best film of the Alternate History subgenre, but it’s also one of the best films of all time. The film is based on string theory and the butterfly effect and how different branches of life’s paths can occur (often by chance). It’s a film rooted in family and the “What If’s?” that happens based on the decisions you make.

It has a non-linear narrative that can be confusing on the first watch, but once you digest your first viewing and watch it again, you’ll appreciate the greatness of this film. It’s not an action-packed film by any means, but rather a slow meditation and narrative on the choices we make throughout life (and the subsequent worlds that would be created based on those choices). Amazing film and highly recommended for fans of The Multiverse, Alternate History and Films About Fate & Destiny.

Additional Lists: Top Alternate History Films You Haven’t Seen #1, Top Films About Fate & Destiny You Haven’t Seen #4

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Up1iDS

Plot: Collegian Tree Gelbman wakes up in horror to learn that she’s stuck in a parallel universe. Her boyfriend Carter is now with someone else, and her friends and fellow students seem to be completely different versions of themselves. When Tree discovers that Carter’s roommate has been altering time, she finds herself once again the target of a masked killer. When the psychopath starts to go after her inner circle, Tree soon realizes that she must die over and over again to save everyone.

KBZ’s Take: We’ll start off by stating that this film won’t make a lot of sense if you haven’t seen the first film Happy Death Day (2018). While both films deal with Time Loops, this sequel also deals with the Multiverse.

Like the Back to the Future series of films, Happy Death Day does an excellent job of setting up many of the parallel world concepts in the first film. Though this parallel world isn’t traveled to until the sequel, it feels like a natural progression of the story rather than tacked on.

Although the film is also a Slasher film, Horror Comedy, and Time Loop film like its predecessor, it’s use of the Multiverse explores one of the better themes of the subgenre – what would you do if you found a deceased love one alive and well in the parallel world?

This film might have flown under the radar for Sci-Fi film fans, but it’s a series of film that are definitely worth checking out.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3WLyecH

Plot: Eight friends experience disturbing events during an astronomical anomaly.

KBZ’s Take: We initially had this film listed as #2 in our Top Time Loop Films You Haven’t Seen. While there’s some debate if the film features an actual Time Loop, there is no debate that this film features some very dark Multiverse concepts.

We also realize that fans of Multiverse films have likely seen this film as it’s often noted as one of the best films of the subgenre. However, we felt we still needed to list it here as different types of films like Spider-Man: No Way Home (2019) and Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) bring a variety of new fans into the subgenre.

What Coherence is not is a big budget film like the films mentioned above. It’s a lower budget film that does a great job of explaining some Multiverse concepts (and eventual outcomes) much in the way the low budget film Primer (2012) tackled Time Travel concepts. And like Primer, Coherence gets better with multiple viewings to fully understand and appreciate all the minute details in the film.

If you’re new to the subgenre, this is one of the first films you should check out as it’s one of the best.

Additional Lists: Top Films About The Multiverse You Haven’t Seen #1, Top Time Loop Films You Haven’t Seen #2

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3XS3Bm3

Plot: An aging Chinese woman is given the power to tap into her other lives in the Multiverse to combat an evil force.

KBZ’s Take:  We wrote about this film well before it won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture in 2023. While initially writing our take on the film as the best Films About Fate & Destiny, we feel our thoughts below still apply for this specific list.

We’ll start off by saying this film is not for everybody. Though the majority of reviews think this is an immediate classic film (and frontrunner for the Academy Award’s Best Picture for 2022), there are also some people where this film won’t be their ‘cup of tea’. With that said, we can count on one hand the number of films that have blown us away on first viewing. The Matrix (1999) is one of those films, Being John Malkovich (1999) is another.

Everything Everywhere All At Once is the latest to leave us speechless after viewing. This is one of the most unique and original films you will ever see with a crazy premise that gets even crazier throughout the film. It utilizes concepts of Fate & Destiny and The Multiverse that haven’t been done before. Oh, and it’s a Family Drama, Martial Arts Action Film, Action Adventure Film and Raunchy Comedy all at once. Words really cannot describe the film, so you’ll have to trust us and see the film right away.

Admittedly, it takes about 20 minutes in the film to really get going, but once you get to that point, hold on as the ride is just beginning.

Additional Lists: Top Films About Fate & Destiny You Haven’t Seen #1

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3XNurvn

Plot: Peter Parker is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life from the high-stakes of being a super-hero. When he asks for help from Doctor Strange the stakes become even more dangerous, forcing him to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.

KBZ’s Take: The entire franchise of Spider-Man revolves around one saying (and theme): With great power comes great responsibility. In no other film of the franchise is that theme more apparent than in this Multiverse blockbuster.

The film is a greatest hits of the characters and themes of the entire Spider-man franchise all rolled into one exciting journey. Though there are likely few readers of this list who have not yet seen the film, we don’t want to ruin some of the Multiverse surprises in the film. You’ll already be able to tell from the film’s poster that the film includes Spider-man’s various enemies all brought together somehow by Doctor Strange.

What we can say is that of all the Multiverse films on our list, no other film seamlessly integrates the emotional connection between parallel worlds in the Multiverse. The film is action-packed with amazing Multiverse sequences yet anchored by the simple code Peter Parker lives by. A code that is universal even in the Multiverse.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/42n98SB